Creator /
Anthony Head

aka: Anthony Stewart Head

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"I'm fortunate because people can't put a label on me, which I embrace wholeheartedly."

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Anthony Stewart Head (born February 20, 1954) is a British actor best known as his role as Rupert Giles in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and more recently as King Uther in Merlin. He also had a short role as Will's terrible dad in The In Betweeners.

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Long before he was Giles, he was most recognisable for being half of an insufferably smug Will They or Won't They? couple flirting over instant coffee in commercials for Nescafé and its American equivalent Taster's Choice.

He has a brother who is a veteran of musicals on the West End, named Murray Head. Murray is better known for his performances in the original Jesus Christ Superstar and his biggest chart hit, "One Night in Bangkok" (from a far less successful musical called Chess).

He has been with his partner Sarah Fisher since 1984, and they have two daughters, Daisy and Emily, who like him are actors.

Actor-Inspired Element: James Marsters based Spike's London accent off Anthony's real voice. The character was at first written with a Texan accent. The inspiration is clear when he uses his natural accent to portray "Ripper" Giles in the episode "Band Candy."

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The Cast Show Off: He shows off his singing talents many times in Buffy, before the Musical Episode even. He performs "Behind Blue Eyes" at the Bronze in 'Where The Wild Things Are' and sings his exposition in 'Restless'. Also subverted as his appearance in the Season 7 premiere was supposed to show off his horse riding skills, but he refused to gallop without a helmet which the crew worried would make him unrecognizable at a distance, so he simply has the horse walk.

Deleted Role: Was cast in the film version of Sweeney Todd playing a ghost who sings "The Ballad of Sweeny Todd", its reprises and "Epilogue". The songs were recorded but deleted, as Tim Burton felt they were too theatrical for a film.

Fake American: For Dominion, marking the first time he had done an American accent for a major production.

The Other Darrin: He replaces Pierce Brosnan as Chiron for Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters.

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